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Personal Experience Protocol
Purpose:
During the course of an investigation, individual
investigators may experience phenomena, ranging from changes in
temperature to seeing moving forms or shapes.
This protocol is designed to ensure that these
experiences are recorded in a consistent manner and that investigators
can attempt to corroborate the experience with other witnesses or
equipment readings.
Materials:
The investigator's senses. A description of the phenomena
either on paper or audio. Readings or other evidence gathered by
appropriate equipment.
Methods:
- Investigators will work in teams, a minimum of two
per team.
- On noticing something unusual, the investigator
will call the team over by saying something neutral like "come
here".
- As the other teammates arrive, the investigator
will indicate there is something to experience, again using neutral
language, along the lines of "do you smell/hear/feel
that?"
- Other investigators, if they can experience
something, will state either yes or no. They will then attempt to
describe what they have experienced while readings are taken, if
appropriate to do so.
Example: in the case of a cold spot, the investigators
should attempt to take a temperature reading at the indicated spot and
follow this up with a reading away from the spot.
In the case of a smell, someone should describe what
they smell.
If something has been seen by more than one person,
other investigators should be brought over and the witnesses should
independently describe what they saw. In the case of a sighting, the
witnesses should attempt to get photographic evidence or indicate where
the phenomena is for the benefit of any cameras present. In this case,
the witnesses should NOT discuss what they have seen with one another
and should speak only to a non-witness.
Controls:
- If a report is made to the room audio, the
investigator should state their name, the location and the time. If
being interviewed, the interviewer should write the investigator's
name, time, location and then have the witness sign the completed
statement, countersigning it themselves. Meter readings should also
be recorded along with name and time, plus ambient readings if
appropriate. This should all be presented to the Business Manager as
quickly as possible, so keep such data separate from any log sheets
for the location.
Data Interpretation:
- If there is any corroborating evidence it will be
included as part of the standard evidence review. The witness or
witnesses should not be the ones to review that portion of evidence
if at all possible.
- Personal experiences without any backup will not be
included as part of the main report but may be included as anecdotal
addenda to that report.
- Experiences with multiple witnesses and supporting
data from cameras, thermometers etc can be included.
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